1 Ahaz|strong="H0271" was|strong="H3068" 20 years|strong="H8141" old|strong="H1121" when|strong="H1121" he|strong="H6213" became|strong="H4427" king|strong="H4427". He|strong="H6213" ruled|strong="H4427" 16 years|strong="H8141" in|strong="H8141" Jerusalem|strong="H3389". He|strong="H6213" did|strong="H6213" not|strong="H3808" live right|strong="H3477", as|strong="H3068" David|strong="H1732" his|strong="H3068" ancestor had|strong="H3068" done|strong="H6213". Ahaz|strong="H0271" did|strong="H6213" not|strong="H3808" do|strong="H6213" what|strong="H3477" the|strong="H3068" LORD|strong="H3068" wanted him|strong="H1732" to|strong="H3068" do|strong="H6213".
2 He|strong="H6213" followed the|strong="H1571" bad example|strong="H1870" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H1571" kings|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Israel|strong="H3478". He|strong="H6213" used|strong="H6213" molds to|strong="H3478" make|strong="H6213" idols to|strong="H3478" worship|strong="H3478" the|strong="H1571" Baal|strong="H1168" gods.
3 He|strong="H0834" burned|strong="H6999" incense|strong="H6999" in|strong="H3478" the|strong="H0853" Valley|strong="H1516" of|strong="H1121" Ben Hinnom|strong="H2011" and|strong="H1121" sacrificed his|strong="H0834" own|strong="H6440" sons|strong="H1121" by|strong="H0784" burning|strong="H6999" them|strong="H0853" in|strong="H3478" the|strong="H0853" fire|strong="H0784". He|strong="H0834" did|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" same|strong="H1931" terrible sins that|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" peoples living in|strong="H3478" that|strong="H0834" land|strong="H6440" did|strong="H0834". The|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3069" had|strong="H0834" forced them|strong="H0853" out|strong="H3423" when|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" Israelites|strong="H3478" entered that|strong="H0834" land|strong="H6440".
4 Ahaz offered|strong="H6999" sacrifices|strong="H6999" and|strong="H6086" burned|strong="H6999" incense|strong="H6999" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" high|strong="H1116" places|strong="H1116", on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" hills|strong="H1389", and|strong="H6086" under|strong="H8478" every|strong="H3605" green|strong="H7488" tree|strong="H6086".
7 Zicri|strong="H2147" was|strong="H4428" a|strong="H2026" brave soldier from|strong="H1121" Ephraim|strong="H0669". He|strong="H0853" killed|strong="H2026" the|strong="H0853" king’s|strong="H4428" son|strong="H1121" Maaseiah|strong="H4641". He|strong="H0853" also|strong="H0853" killed|strong="H2026" Azrikam|strong="H5840", the|strong="H0853" officer|strong="H5057" in|strong="H1004" charge of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0853" king’s|strong="H4428" palace|strong="H1004", and|strong="H1121" Elkanah|strong="H0511", who|strong="H1121" was|strong="H4428" second|strong="H4932" in|strong="H1004" command to|strong="H1004" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428".
8 The|strong="H0853" Israelite|strong="H3478" army captured|strong="H7617" 200,000 of|strong="H1121" their|strong="H1992" own relatives|strong="H0251" living in|strong="H0935" Judah. They|strong="H1992" took|strong="H7617" women|strong="H0802", children|strong="H1121", and|strong="H1121" many|strong="H7227" valuable things|strong="H1992" from|strong="H0935" Judah and|strong="H1121" carried|strong="H7617" them|strong="H1992" back|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" Samaria|strong="H8111".
9 But|strong="H1961" one|strong="H1961" of|strong="H0430" the|strong="H0559" LORD’S|strong="H3068" prophets|strong="H5030" named|strong="H8034" Oded|strong="H5752" was|strong="H8034" there|strong="H8033". Oded|strong="H5752" met the|strong="H0559" Israelite army|strong="H6635" that|strong="H3068" came|strong="H0935" back|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0559" Samaria|strong="H8111". He|strong="H5704" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0559" Israelite army|strong="H6635", “The|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068", the|strong="H0559" God|strong="H0430" your|strong="H3068" ancestors|strong="H0001" worshiped, let|strong="H5414" you|strong="H5414" defeat|strong="H5414" the|strong="H0559" people of|strong="H0430" Judah|strong="H3063" because|strong="H5921" he|strong="H5704" was|strong="H8034" angry|strong="H2534" with|strong="H3068" them|strong="H5414". But|strong="H1961" now|strong="H1961" he|strong="H5704" is|strong="H3068" angry|strong="H2534" with|strong="H3068" you|strong="H5414", because|strong="H5921" he|strong="H5704" has|strong="H3068" seen how|strong="H2009" cruel you|strong="H5414" were|strong="H1961" in|strong="H5921" killing|strong="H2026" them|strong="H5414".
10 And|strong="H1121" now|strong="H6258" you|strong="H0859" plan to|strong="H0559" keep the|strong="H0559" people|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Judah|strong="H3063" and|strong="H1121" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" as|strong="H3068" slaves|strong="H5650". But|strong="H7535" you|strong="H0859" are|strong="H1121" as|strong="H3068" guilty|strong="H0819" as|strong="H3068" they|strong="H3808" are|strong="H1121" for|strong="H3068" sinning against|strong="H5973" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430".
11 Now|strong="H6258" listen|strong="H8085" to|strong="H7725" me|strong="H7725". Send back|strong="H7725" all those|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0834" captured|strong="H7617", your|strong="H3068" own brothers|strong="H0251" and|strong="H3068" sisters, because|strong="H3588" the|strong="H0834" LORD’S|strong="H3068" terrible anger|strong="H0639" is|strong="H0834" against|strong="H5921" you|strong="H0834".”
12 Then|strong="H6965" some|strong="H4480" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H5921" leaders|strong="H7218" in|strong="H5921" Ephraim|strong="H0669" saw the|strong="H5921" Israelite soldiers|strong="H0376" coming|strong="H0935" home from|strong="H4480" war|strong="H6635". They|strong="H5921" met the|strong="H5921" Israelite soldiers|strong="H0376" and|strong="H1121" warned them|strong="H5921". The|strong="H5921" leaders|strong="H7218" were|strong="H1121" Azariah|strong="H5838" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Jehohanan|strong="H3076", Berekiah son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Meshillemoth|strong="H4919", Jehizkiah|strong="H3169" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Shallum|strong="H7967", and|strong="H1121" Amasa|strong="H6021" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Hadlai|strong="H2311".
13 They|strong="H3588" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0853" Israelite|strong="H3478" soldiers, “Don’t|strong="H3808" bring|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" prisoners from|strong="H0935" Judah here|strong="H2008". If|strong="H3588" you|strong="H0859" do|strong="H3254" that|strong="H3588", it|strong="H5921" will|strong="H3068" add|strong="H3254" to|strong="H0559" our|strong="H3068" sin|strong="H2403" against|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068". It|strong="H5921" will|strong="H3068" make|strong="H3254" our|strong="H3068" sin|strong="H2403" and|strong="H0935" guilt|strong="H0819" before|strong="H5921" him|strong="H5921" even|strong="H3588" worse than|strong="H3808" it|strong="H5921" is|strong="H3068" now|strong="H2008", and|strong="H0935" he|strong="H3588" is|strong="H3068" already very|strong="H7227" angry|strong="H0639" with|strong="H3068" Israel|strong="H3478"!”
14 So|strong="H6440" the|strong="H3605" soldiers gave the|strong="H3605" prisoners and|strong="H6440" valuable things|strong="H3605" to|strong="H6440" the|strong="H3605" leaders|strong="H8269" and|strong="H6440" to|strong="H6440" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5800".
15 The|strong="H3605" leaders (Azariah, Berekiah, Jehizkiah, and|strong="H0935" Amasa) stood|strong="H6965" up|strong="H6965" and|strong="H0935" helped|strong="H2388" the|strong="H3605" prisoners. These|strong="H3605" four men|strong="H0376" got|strong="H6965" the|strong="H3605" clothes|strong="H3847" that|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" Israelite army took|strong="H2388" and|strong="H0935" gave|strong="H8248" them|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H0376" who|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" naked|strong="H4636". The|strong="H3605" leaders also|strong="H0935" gave|strong="H8248" them|strong="H7725" sandals|strong="H5274". They|strong="H0834" gave|strong="H8248" the|strong="H3605" prisoners from|strong="H4480" Judah something to|strong="H0935" eat|strong="H0398" and|strong="H0935" drink|strong="H8248". They|strong="H0834" rubbed oil on|strong="H3847" them|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0935" soften and|strong="H0935" heal their|strong="H3605" wounds. Then|strong="H6965" the|strong="H3605" leaders from|strong="H4480" Ephraim|strong="H8034" put|strong="H3847" the|strong="H3605" weak|strong="H3782" prisoners on|strong="H3847" donkeys|strong="H2543" and|strong="H0935" took|strong="H2388" them|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" home|strong="H8034" to|strong="H0935" their|strong="H3605" families in|strong="H0935" Jericho|strong="H3405", the|strong="H3605" city|strong="H5892" of|strong="H0376" palm|strong="H8558" trees|strong="H8558". Then|strong="H6965" the|strong="H3605" four leaders went|strong="H0935" back|strong="H7725" home|strong="H8034" to|strong="H0935" Samaria|strong="H8111".
18 The|strong="H0853" Philistines|strong="H6430" also|strong="H0853" attacked the|strong="H0853" towns|strong="H1323" in|strong="H3427" the|strong="H0853" hills and|strong="H3063" in|strong="H3427" south|strong="H5045" Judah|strong="H3063". The|strong="H0853" Philistines|strong="H6430" captured|strong="H3920" the|strong="H0853" towns|strong="H1323" of|strong="H1323" Beth Shemesh, Aijalon|strong="H0357", Gederoth|strong="H1450", Soco|strong="H7755", Timnah|strong="H8553", and|strong="H3063" Gimzo|strong="H1579". They|strong="H8033" also|strong="H0853" captured|strong="H3920" the|strong="H0853" villages|strong="H1323" near|strong="H3920" these towns|strong="H1323". Then|strong="H0853" the|strong="H0853" Philistines|strong="H6430" lived|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" them|strong="H0853".
19 The|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" gave troubles to|strong="H3068" Judah|strong="H3063" because|strong="H3588" King|strong="H4428" Ahaz|strong="H0271" of|strong="H4428" Judah|strong="H3063" encouraged the|strong="H0853" people of|strong="H4428" Judah|strong="H3063" to|strong="H3068" sin. He|strong="H3588" was|strong="H3068" very|strong="H4604" unfaithful|strong="H4603" to|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068".
20 King|strong="H4428" Tiglath Pileser of|strong="H4428" Assyria|strong="H0804" came|strong="H0935" and|strong="H0935" gave|strong="H2388" Ahaz trouble instead|strong="H3808" of|strong="H4428" helping him|strong="H5921".
21 Ahaz|strong="H0271" took|strong="H0853" some valuable things|strong="H3808" from|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" LORD’S|strong="H3068" Temple|strong="H1004" and|strong="H3068" from|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" king’s|strong="H4428" palace|strong="H1004" and|strong="H3068" from|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" prince’s house|strong="H1004". Ahaz|strong="H0271" gave|strong="H5414" them|strong="H5414" to|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Assyria|strong="H0804", but|strong="H3588" that|strong="H3588" didn’t|strong="H3808" help|strong="H5833" him|strong="H5414".
22 In|strong="H3068" Ahaz’s|strong="H0271" troubles, he|strong="H1931" sinned worse and|strong="H3068" became|strong="H4603" more|strong="H3254" unfaithful|strong="H4603" to|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3068" LORD|strong="H3068".
23 He|strong="H3588" offered|strong="H2076" sacrifices|strong="H2076" to|strong="H0559" the|strong="H3605" gods|strong="H0430" the|strong="H3605" people of|strong="H4428" Damascus|strong="H1834" worshiped. The|strong="H3605" people of|strong="H4428" Damascus|strong="H1834" had|strong="H1961" defeated|strong="H5221" Ahaz. So|strong="H1961" he|strong="H3588" thought|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" himself, “The|strong="H3605" gods|strong="H0430" the|strong="H3605" people of|strong="H4428" Aram|strong="H0758" worship|strong="H3478" helped|strong="H5826" them|strong="H1992". So|strong="H1961" if|strong="H3588" I|strong="H3588" offer|strong="H2076" sacrifices|strong="H2076" to|strong="H0559" them|strong="H1992", maybe they|strong="H1992" will|strong="H0430" help|strong="H5826" me|strong="H5221" also|strong="H0853".” Ahaz worshiped these|strong="H1992" gods|strong="H0430". In|strong="H0430" this|strong="H3588" way|strong="H3605" he|strong="H3588" sinned, and|strong="H3478" he|strong="H3588" made|strong="H1961" the|strong="H3605" people of|strong="H4428" Israel|strong="H3478" sin.
24 Ahaz|strong="H0271" gathered|strong="H0622" the|strong="H3605" things|strong="H3605" from|strong="H3068" God’s|strong="H0430" Temple|strong="H1004" and|strong="H3068" broke them|strong="H0853" to|strong="H3068" pieces|strong="H7112". Then|strong="H0853" he|strong="H0430" closed|strong="H5462" the|strong="H3605" doors|strong="H1817" of|strong="H1004" the|strong="H3605" LORD’S|strong="H3068" Temple|strong="H1004". He|strong="H0430" made|strong="H6213" altars|strong="H4196" and|strong="H3068" put|strong="H0622" them|strong="H0853" on|strong="H3068" every|strong="H3605" street corner|strong="H6438" in|strong="H0430" Jerusalem|strong="H3389".
25 In|strong="H0430" every|strong="H3605" town|strong="H5892" in|strong="H0430" Judah|strong="H3063" Ahaz made|strong="H6213" high|strong="H1116" places|strong="H1116" for|strong="H3605" burning|strong="H6999" incense|strong="H6999" to|strong="H3068" worship other|strong="H0312" gods|strong="H0430". Ahaz made|strong="H6213" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068", the|strong="H3605" God|strong="H0430" his|strong="H3605" ancestors|strong="H0001" obeyed, very angry|strong="H3707".
26 Everything|strong="H3605" else|strong="H3605" Ahaz did, from|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" beginning|strong="H7223" to|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" end|strong="H0314", is|strong="H1697" written|strong="H3789" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" book|strong="H5612", \+w The|strong="H3605"\+w* History \+w of|strong="H4428"\+w* \+w the|strong="H3605"\+w* \+w Kings|strong="H4428"\+w* \+w of|strong="H4428"\+w* \+w Judah|strong="H3063"\+w* \+w and|strong="H3063"\+w* \+w Israel|strong="H3478"\+w*.
27 Ahaz|strong="H0271" died and|strong="H1121" was|strong="H3478" buried|strong="H6912" with|strong="H5973" his|strong="H0935" ancestors|strong="H0001". The|strong="H3588" people|strong="H1121" buried|strong="H6912" him|strong="H0935" in|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3588" city|strong="H5892" of|strong="H1121" Jerusalem|strong="H3389". But|strong="H3588" they|strong="H3588" didn’t|strong="H3808" bury|strong="H6912" him|strong="H0935" in|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3588" same burial|strong="H6913" place|strong="H8478" where|strong="H8478" the|strong="H3588" kings|strong="H4428" of|strong="H1121" Israel|strong="H3478" were|strong="H3478" buried|strong="H6912". Ahaz’s|strong="H0271" son|strong="H1121" Hezekiah|strong="H2396" became|strong="H4427" the|strong="H3588" new king|strong="H4428" in|strong="H0935" his|strong="H0935" place|strong="H8478".